Pigs must be flying

The impossible has been done! The Leavitts have camped. Hell is freezing over, the fat lady is singing, pigs are flying...because we actually had a great time. Our good friends, the Smiths, convinced us that a weekend at Big Bear Lake California would be a good time. We agreed and immediately started looking at cabin sites and cost. We didn't realize they had TENTS in mind. When we pulled up to the camp site, I had that feeling like you're about to be wheeled into surgery all while my buddy Brityn was literally squealing and clapping with glee.

Our trip down was great fun. We talked, laughed, popped open cans of pringles and watched Pete's Dragon in their super overflowing, packed-to-the-rafters with pillows Sequoia.


This picture is of Abigail (7) with sweet camping hair and her friend Madeline (4) emerging from the packed car. When we pulled into the little town of Big Bear, we stopped at Thelma's for lunch. We are out on the back patio with wild flowers. Max had a chicken fried steak that was about the size and dimensions of his forearm and deeply regretted it later.

After, we drove to our camp site, passing a ridiculously grouchy lady working for the forest service. At camp, I was so confused and lost about camping. But the Smiths literally took care of everything. Brandon and I coined the phrase, "Concierge Camping" and also regularly called it "Glamping." They made every meal and every activity so painless with all their preplanning and effort. We had just enough of a taste of camping (i.e. rolling out a sleeping bag, setting up a tent).

 



After camp was set up, we hiked down to see the lake. Big Bear Lake is dirty and stinky, but we still had a great time. We then went to the Discovery Center and pet lots of taxidermied animals and learned a bit about Big Bear. When we came back to camp, the kids played in the water pump, we went on another hike, and Max got started making us our camp feast of pork roast, Caesar salad and rolls with homemade jam. We ate ourselves sick and then, of course, had smores.

We then put our kids to bed and stayed up late talking and watching the stars. It was so fun to plan our futures, laugh, and tell stories about the kids. We got a little too ruckus at one point and the grumpy lady had to come yell at us in her little golf cart to keep it down. When we eventually poured ourselves into our sleeping bags, Brandon and I had the most hilarious night's sleep I think we've ever had. It involved mummy bags, cots, and a late night pee run. I seriously laughed till I cried and not just because it was 3am.

The next morning the Smiths fed us omelets, fruit and bacon. We packed up camp and then headed for a super fun family hike. The hike was just right- mountainous enough to really feel like a hike but short enough we didn't have to carry the kids the whole time. We then packed back up in the car and headed down the mountain. The roads are really curvy and poor Madeline threw up in a popcorn bag and I about joined her!

On our way home, we talked and laughed some more...ate more pringles, watched The Sound of Music, and Brandon finally, after 13 years, got me to stop at the Barstow Station McDonald's that he always went to in his youth on the way to Disney. It will probably take me another 13 years to be convinced to go back.

When we got home, we showered, relaxed and got ready for the next day- which was the first day of second grade for this little cutie!

 

She has Mrs. Moen this year and we're off to a great start. She is such a wonderful kid- so kind and helpful and just good down to her core. I couldn't be more proud. On Monday we unveiled the 2013-14 Leavitt Family Theme and for posterity's sake, I shall record it here:

 

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your ^awork shall be rewarded.

 

It's from Chronicles and it's a good one for us. We're really busy but we want to focus on the blessings of work in our lives and how much more we are able to have and do because we work hard. It's going to be a great year!